1984

As I write this on Mardi Gras Tuesday, the Grammys have just past and Oscar speculations are flying as thick and heavy as the snowflakes out my window. So I thought I'd announce some class of '84 nominations for home movies, slide shows and videos soon to be playing on a screen near you...

In the category of travel videos there are two nominees: Roy Forbes for his remarkable documentary on Australian mating rituals and Marion Graver Radin for her how-to video on Chinese adoptions. Roy is also nominated for time-lapse photography as his wedding to Samantha Robinson, whom he met on at an outback ranch while she was "fixing" bulls, occurred two years ago! I leave it to Roy to tell exactly what about Samantha's technique turned him on. The happy couple lives in L.A., where Roy has "left the corporate grind and jumped into the non-profit world to raise money for cancer research and treatment at City of Hope (www.cityofhope.org)." He has also started a non-profit organization (doing good at both at work and play!) to improve the literacy skills of inner-city kids called Apple Seed Learning Center (www.appleseedlearningcenter.org). Roy writes," To all my classmates, please do me a favor and check out the Website. If you like what you see, send a donation and get your friends to support it as well. If you want to start a chapter in your town, let us know."

In compensation for his tardiness, Roy passed along the news that Jon Welch and his wife, Marion, have "just had" (Roys very exact wording) an "adorable" baby girl, Zoe. Jon and Marion live in Hamburg, Germany.

But back to the awards.. .Marions entry (that is to say, Marion '84 who should not be confused with Marion married to an '84) details in glorious technicolor the lifestyle transformation that occurred when she and her husband, Jonathanplus both sets of grand-parents—traveled to China to adopt not one but two, twin, girls! Allison Qing Waller Radin and Abigail Gui Brewer Radin were born in October 1999 and adopted on November 13,2000. Marion particularly appreciated the bi-parental escort, "It was great to have them along for this momentous occasion in our lives, plus we needed all the help we could get!" Her amazing documentary not only provides practical details about Chinese adoptions, it also offers consumers a remarkable look at China itself—Beijing, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Guilin and the lovely Li River Valley; all this can be yours for the low, low price of only $19.95 plus shipping and handling. Order your copy today by "calling" marion@radin.net.

The nomination for surprise new talent of 2000 goes to Peter Lawrence James Lujan, class of '24. Peter just couldn't wait to see his name up in '84 lights and arrived 11 days earlier than mom Amy Schroth and dad Alfredo Lujan, expected. Amy writes, "He [Peter] was born on December 4, 2000, at 4:27 p.m. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 21 inches long. We arrived at the hospital just two hours before he was born! Whew! "Amy and Alfredo are now trying to figure out "how it works" with both a toddler (Mabel) and a newborn at home in New Mexico. You can send them advice at amy_schroth@breadnet.middlebury.edu.

The last nomination this month is for home movies...and it goes to Eric Liederman for his charming Christmas Day movie of son Ethan's first ski trip. Eric, wife Jodi and Ethan (21/2) live in Sacramento, where Eric has recently started a new position as medical director, clinical information systems, at UC Davis Health System. Eric reports no discernable Dartmouth action in the California state capital, and claims they are too far from the Bay Area to join in the fun—more on that in a bit—so they are reduced to "skiing, tennis and playing with Ethan." Doesn't sound that bad to me! But if you'd like to help Eric create some mid-state '84 action, give him a holler at emljal@cs.com.

And as for that fun...if you missed Marianne McCarroll's fall mini-reunion, she's planning another one in the Bay Area for April or May. It will be outdoors at a state park, a similar venue as the last one. Stay tuned....

Kansas City, MO 64112-1822; krausek@umkc.edu;6310 Cherry Tree Lane, Atlanta, GA30328; (404) 256-1853; mymy@minclspring.com